Deformation resisting sliding closure assembly



Oct. l5, 1963 H. GULDAGER DEFORMATION REsIsTING SLIDING cLosuRE ASSEMBLY Filed July 11. 1960 3,106,753 DEFORMATION REsIsTING SLIDING cLosuRE ASSEMBLY Filed July 11, 1960 Oct. l5, 1963 c. H. GULDAGER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 R 1 a@ 2 n 2 2 mw /r/q M T0 M NL 20. n@ @L/2 2 :I H 2 2 m J .-I N m U w W C 4 h W .A 2 2 w 4 .76 5 2 s f 22 7 /7 65H26 Nvcw2167 5 6 2 --1 a 9 n e U 6 2 2% 4% M u 9J j 2 T 7 6 d 3 f w M2 @ya f W 2 4 a Oct. l5, 1963 c. H. GULDAGER DEFORMATION RESISTING SLIDING CLOSURE ASSEMBLY Filed July ll, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 /Mmcf United States Patent O 3,166,753 DEFQRMATIN RESISTING SLIDING CLOSURE ASSEMBLY Clinton H. Guldager, Walnut Creek, Calif.; Arthur A. Anderson, Ralph L. Saxton, and Philip J. Simmons, executors of said Clinton H. Guldager, deceased, assignors, to iliirit Windows, Inc., Hayward, Calif., a corporation of California Filed July 11, 1960, Ser. No. 42,163 1 Claim. (Cl. 2.0-19) The present invention relates to sliding closures for use in architectural structures and more particularlyy to pre-fabricated door and window assemblies of the class having a frame mounting a plurality of closure panels.

'In the construction of buildings it is a common practice to make use of pre-assembled door or Window frames of a type mounting a number of closure panels, generally formed of glass, at least one of Iwhich panels may be slidable in the horizontal direction. IPre-formed assemblies of this type are economically made, readily installed and present an attractive appearance in keeping with modern architectural design concepts.

In a sliding closure assembly of the usual proportions, a considerable span is present between the upright jamb members of the frame. Owing to the span between the upright load bearing members, the head member of the frame has heretofore exhibited a tendency to sag and thus interfere with proper functioning of the closure in several respects.

Sagging of the head member may interfere with the sliding movement of a panel and in extreme cases may prevent opening and closing thereof. S-uch deformation may accelerate wear and may result in the leakage of air and moisture around the closure.

A particularly disadvantageous result of sagging of the head member is that the removal and replacement of panels may be made difficult. This effect is particularly noticeable in closures of the type mounting a ixed panel together with a sliding panel, in which closures replacement of the fixed panel may occasionally be required due to glass breakage. Generally the fixed panel is iitted into the frame with fairly close tolerances and even a minor deformation of the frame may cause severe diliiculty in the removing and mounting of the panels.

To prevent the foregoing effects, it will be found highly advantageous to provide an upright load bearing member at an intermediate position between the jamb members of the frame. In the usual case of a frame mounting two closure panels, the load bearing member should preferably be situated midway between the jambs to provide maximum support of the head.

Heretofore, insofar as -I am aware, no commercially practical sliding closure assembly has been available with an intermediate upright load bearing member as a permanent and unitary member of the frame. .A common practice, where center support is desired, has been to mount at least one fixed panel in the frame and to rely on structural elements of this panel to provide support for the intermediate portion of the head. Thus a typical conventional closure assembly mounts a sliding panel together with a fixed panel and the latter is provided with a stile midway between the jambs which offers some support to the head.

It should be noted that the central upright member in these prior constructions is basically a component of the panel rather than being a permanent and integral element of the frame. Thus when the panel is removed, for replacement for example, the head member of the frame is left without support at the center and the above described deleterious sagging may occur. Thus the conventional constructions do not provide a satisfactory and 3,1%,753 Patented ct. 15, 1963 2 fully reliable means for forestalling deformation of the head and such constructions lwill be found subject to the diiiiculties hereinbefore discussed.

The present invention provides for a prefabricated unitary sliding closure assembly having an intermediate upright load bearing member which is a permanent element of the frame rather than of a panel. Accordingly, the member supports the head irrespective of the presence or absence of the panels and thus sagging cannot occur. As a further advantageous feature of the invention, the intermediate support member is uniquely situated in the frame so that the inventive concept is equally useful for assemblies mounting a liX-ed panel together 'with a sliding panel, assemblies mounting two sliding panels, and assemblies which are convertible between the foregoing two forms.

4Notwithstanding the additional support provided to the head, components of the invention are arranged so that a minimum area at the center of the frame is occupied by opaque structural elements. A still further feature of the invention is a novel means for weathersealing the juncture between the bottom of a sliding panel and the threshold of the assembly.

Accordingly it is an object of this invention to provide an extremely strong, rigid and deformation resisting sliding closure assembly for installation in buildings.

It is another object of this invention to provide a sliding closure assembly mounting a plurality of closure panels in a frame and having constantly operative pro- -vision for preventing sagging of the head member of the frame.

It is another object of the invention to provide a prefabricated sliding door construction including a frame having a central upright load bearing member, which construction is applicable to closures mounting a pair of adjacent sliding panels, closures mounting a sliding panel `tog-ether with a ixed panel, and closures lwhich are convertible between the foregoing two forms.

It is still another object of the invention -to provide *a sliding closure assembly having an intermediate upright load bearing member as an element of the frame thereof which assembly requires only a minimum area of the frame to be occupied by opaque structural elements.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an irnproved weather-sealing means for the threshold Iof a frame mounting a sliding closure panel.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. lt is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by lthe said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claim.

FIGURE l is Va broken-out perspective view showing a sliding-closure assembly for installation in the door opening loff a building, the assembly being of the type mounting a single sliding panel together with a iixed panel.

' FIGURE 2 is a fore-shortened plan section View taken along line 2--2 of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 3 is an elevation section view taken along `staggered line 3 3 of FIGURE 2 and showing further details of the construction.

FIGURE 4 is a partial plan section View showing the adaptation of the invention to a closure assembly of the type mounting a pair of sliding closure panels.

FIGURE 5 is elevation section view, corresponding to FIGURE 3, showing a modiiication of the invention which may be converted from the mounting of a slidingY panel together with a fixed panel to the mounting of a pair of sliding panels and showing the structure in the former arrangement, and

FIGURE 6 is a view showing the structure of FIG- URE converted to the mounting of a pair of sliding panels.

Referring now to the drawing and more particularly to FIGURES 1 to 3 in conjunction, there is shown a rectangular frarne having as elements a sill member 11, head member 12 and a pair of upright jambs 13 and 14 which extend between corresponding ends of the sill and head.

To provide a vertical step 16 for facilitating weathersealing, the inward portion 17 of sill 11 is elevated with respect to the outer portion 18 thereof and to engage the outer surface of a building, `the extreme outer edge of the sill is turned downwardly. Similarly, the head 1,2 and jambs 13 and 14 are provided with angled formations 19 and 21 along the outer `and inner edges respectively 'to provide for installation of the frame in a building.

Considering now an aspect of the invention, through which any tendency of the head 12 to sag is resisted at all times, an upright linear support member 22 extends between the sill 11 and head 12 at a position midway between the jambs 13 and 14 and in parallel relationship therewith. The support member 2-2, which is preferably of hollow rectangular cross section, is positioned with the outer surface of the member flush with step 16 on sill 111. The extremities of -the support member 22 are secured to sill 11 and head 12 primarily independent of any other parts so that the support constitutes a permanent and unitary load bearing element of the frame. If, as in the present instance, the frame elements are aluminum extrusions, the ends of support 22 may be welded to the sill 11 and head 12 although it should be understood that other materials and other methods of attachment may be employed.

To provide for an advantageous arrangement of closure panels in the frame, as will hereinafter be described in more detail, the support 22 is formed to have substantially less thickness in a direction perpendicular to the frame than the sill 11 and other components of the frame. Thus an unobstructed region is provided within the frame on both the outer and the inner sides of the 4support 2v2 in each of which spaces a panel may be mounted.

Considering now means for receiving the panels in the frame, a first pair of spaced apart parallel downwardly depending flanges 23 are disposed along the underside of head l12, the innermost of the flanges being received in a rabbet 24 formed in the forward face of the upper end of support member 22. A second pair of spaced apart parallel downwardly depending flanges 26 are disposed along head 12 at the inner side of the support 22, the outermost of this pair of flanges being received in a rabbet 27 formed in the upper end of the inner face of support 22. The flanges 23 and 26 thus form two parallel channels along the underside of head 12, one outward from support 22 and the other inward therefrom, for receiving the upper edges of closure panels.

Additional means for receiving the innermost panel are a pair of spaced apart parallel flanges 28 which extend along jamb 14 to continue the channel of head flanges 26 downward along the jamb and a pair of spaced apart parallel grooves 29 formed along the upper surface of `sill 11 inwardly in the frame from support 22. Inasmuch as the outermost of the two panels mounted in the frame is to be slidable, an upstanding linear track slat 31 is disposed along the upper surface of sill 11 outwardly from supportr22 and in -a centered position beneath the head flanges 23. A cylindrical bead 32 is formed along the upper edge of the track 31.

A sliding closure panel 33 as here shown is comprised of a sash frame formed of spaced apart vertical channel members 34 and 36 connected at the top and bottom ends by horizontal channels 37 and 33 respectively. Each of the component channel members of the sash is open at the side facing the center of the sash to receive the edges of a rectangular glass pane 39 and a packing of resilient sealing material 41. The vertical channel 34 which is closest to the jamb 13 is provided with a pair of spaced apart flanges 42 extending towards the jamb. Similarly, a pair of spaced apart parallel downwardly directed flanges 43 are provided along the underside of the bottom channel 33 of the sash.

The sliding closure panel 33 is mounted in the frame with the upper edge of the panel entered between flanges 23 on the head, a linear strip of weathersealing material 44 being disposed along the facing surfaces of each such flange to bear against the edge of the panel. To support the panel 33, a plurality of sheave wheels 46 are rotatably mounted between the bottom flanges 43 of the panel, the wheels having a circumferential groove riding on the bead 32 of track 31.

Thus the panel 33 is slidable into abutment with jamb 13 to close the door and is slidable away therefrom to Ithe open position. To accommodate the center support member 22 of the frame without causing an increased area of the :closure to be occupied by opaque structural elements, the panel 33 is formed to have a width slightly in excess cf the spacing between jamb 13 and support 22. Thus, in the closed position, fthe channel 36 of the panel frame is contiguous with the support 22.

To further support the sliding panel 33 when in the closed position, alinear flange 47 is formed along channel 36 of the panel which flange projects at right angles to the panel in the direction of the support 22. A smaller sub-flange 48 is disposed along the flange 47, at right angles thereto, and enters into a slot 49 formed along the side surface of the support 22 when the panel is slid to the closed position.

Provision for weatherstripping the sliding panel 33 includes a linear rib 51 disposed along jamb 13 and carrying a linear strip of resilient weather-sealing material 52 along the inner and outer sides. Rib 51 is centered with respect to the side flanges 42 of the panel 33 so that the flanges are received one on each side of the rib when the panel is moved to the closed position.

A highly advantageous means for weather-sealing the bottom of the sliding closure panel includes a first strip of resilient sealing material 53 secured along the inner surface of the outermost flange 43 at the bottom of the panel which strip bears against the outer surface of track 31. A second strip of sealing material 54 is secured along the vertical surface of the step 16 on sill v11 and bears against the innermost of the panel bottom flanges 43. The foregoing structure provides a double barrier to the movement of air or water under the sliding panel 33 and, in conjunction with the step 16, effectively seals the threshold of the assembly.

Considering now the fixed panel 56, such panel includes a rectangular sash frame having upright channels 5'7 and 58 connected at the top and bottom by channels 59 and 61 respectively, each such channel fhaving an open face to receive an edge of a rectangular glass pane 62 and packing material 63. The top channel 59 extends upwardly between head flanges 26 and is secured therein by transverse fasteners 64. The pair of parallel spaced apart flanges 28 disposed along the jamb receive the side channel 58 lof the panel and threaded fasteners 67 are transpierced through the innermost flange to bear against the channel. A pair of short parallel flanges 68 are formed along the lower surface of the bottom panel channel 61 and enter the matching grooves 29 formed along the top surface of sill 11. An upwardly projecting flange 71 is provided `along the inner edge of sill 11 through which flange threaded fasteners 72 are transpierced to bear against channel 61 and thus to secure the lower edge of the panel 56 within grooves 29.

As hereinbefore discussed with reference to the sliding panel, the fixed panel 56 is of suficient width to extend from jamb 14 to the far side of the center support member 22 so that the side channel 57 of the panel overlies the support and a mini-mum area of opaque structural elements is present within the frame.

Fixed panel '56 is attached to the center support 22 iby means of la linear flange 73 which is disposed lalong the edge of channel 57 and projects at right angles therefrom to lie against the side of the support 22 which faces jamb i3. Self tapping screws 74 are transpierced through the flange 73 and engaged in a longitudinal groove 76 in the support 22 to secure the adjacent end of the panel 56 thereto.

It should be noted that the above described attachment of the panel 56 to the frame center support 22, specifically by means of the screws 74, is a disengageable one. 'Ilhus the panel 56 may be removed and replaced rwithoutt disturbing the support 22 and thus without removing the support offered to head 12 by such member. Accordingly, no sagging of the head 12 can occur at any time.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, the application of the invention to a sliding closure 4assembly mounting a pair of sliding panels is illustrated, elements of this embodiment or" the invention ybeing substantially similar to those of FIGURES l to 3 except `as will be described.

In this embodiment the fixed panel is replaced with a second sliding panel 33 similar to that hereinbefore described except that the flange 47' and the flanges 42 are disposed along reversed ventical edges of the panel to provide for the reversed placement of the secon-d panel relative to that of the first panel 33. Modifications to the frame include the disposition of a second track 31 along sill il inwardly from support member 22 and an appropriately wider spacing of flanges 26 on the head Iand flanges 28 yon the jamb 14. To provide `for the foregoing modifications, the members of the frame comprising sill 11', head l2' and jambs 13 and l14 are formed to provide a greater spacing between the inner face of support 22 and the inner face of the frame.

Thus the invention provides for the mounting of a pair of sliding panels while still providing full permanent support for the head member.

The invention can, in fact, be applied to an assembly which is inter-convertible between the mounting of a sliding panel together with a fixed panel and the mounting of a pair of sliding panels thereby permitting a single unit to be manufactured for use in either form and permitting an installed unit to be readily modified as the user desires. Referring now to FIGURES and 6 there is shown a third embodiment of the invention adapted for conversion as discussed above. Except as will be hereinafter described, elements of such embodiment are substantially similar to the corresponding elements of FIG- URES l to 3 as previously described.

Referring initially to FIGURE 5 in particular, the assembly is shown in a rst condition in which a fixed panel 56 is mounted therein. The frame structure is similar to that of FIGURES l to 3 except that the spacing of flanges 26 on head 112, flanges 128 on jamb 114, and the spacing of sill flange 71 from support member 22 is increased and the excess space between such flanges, specifically the space not occupied by the edges of fixed panel 56, is filled by linear spacers 77, 78 and 79 respectively. The spacers 77, 78 and 79 may be of rectangular cross-section and the panel fasteners 64, 67 and 72 respectively bear against the spacers to hold lthe panel Ledges in position,

6 Referring now to FIGURE'G, the assembly of FIG- URE 5 is shown converted to the mounting of two sliding panels. The outer sliding panel 33 and inner sliding panel 33 are similar to those hereinbefore described with reference to the embodiments of FIGURES l to 3 and FIGURE 4 respectively. To provide for the mount- 1ing of the addittional sliding panel 33', tr e spacers 77, 78 and 79. of FIGURE 5 are removed from the frame and an upright linear track 81, formed with hase fianges 82, is secured along the upper surface of sill lill inwardly from support member 22 by means of screws 83 which transpierce the base flanges 82 and engage in the sill.

As in the embodiment of FIGURES l to 3, advantageous weather sealing of the threshold of the assembly beneath the sliding panel 33 may be provided by a pair of linear weather strips 84 and 86. Strip 84 is disposed along the outer bottom fiange 43 of the panel 33 and bears against the adjacent surface of track Si and strip 86 is disposed along the step formed by sill flange 7i and bears against the innermost of the panels flanges 43.

What is claimed is:

A sliding closure assembly comprising a sill, a head member spaced above said sill in parallel relationship thereto, a pair of parallel spaced jambs connecting the ends of said sill and said head member to form a rectangular frame therewith, a linear support member extending between said sill and said head member at an intermediate position between said jambs and secured to said sill and head member to form a unitary element of said frame, said support member being of less thickness than said sill and said head member in a direction normal to said frame and being disposed at an intermediate position in said frame with respect to said direction normal to said frame, first retentive guide means depending from said head member and extending longitudinally thereon and parallel therewith, said first means being disposed on one side of said support member with respect to said direction normal to said frame, second longitudinal retentive guide means depending from said head member on the opposed side of said support member and parallel with said first means, a first rectangular closure panel mounted in said frame and disposed on said one side of said support member, said rst panel engaging said first guide means for securing the upper portion of said panel from transverse movement in said frame, said panel including a stile member adapted for positioning adjacent said one side of said support member, said stile member having a first flange extending inwardly of said frame in said direction normal thereto and adapted to abut against said support member in sealing realtionship therewith, a second rectangular closure panel mounted in said frame and disposed on said other side of said support member, said second panel engaging said second guide means for securance against transverse movement and including a second stile member adapted for positioning adjacent said other side of said support member, said second stile member having a flange extending inwardly of said frame in a direction opposite to that of said first flange and adapted to abut against said support member in sealing relationship therewith, and at least one of said closure panels being travelabie along said sill.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,889,585 Le Bon June 9, 1959 2,918,708 Sharp et al. Dec. 29, 1959 2,920,358 Woodward Jan. l2, 1960 12,953,824 Minick Sept. 27, 196() 

